3 Die in Sante Fe Bus Accident

Mar. 03, 1999

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) _ A bus bringing elementary school children back to Santa Fe from a ski outing crashed and overturned Tuesday, killing three people.

``There were a lot of students walking along the roadway. They were bleeding and crying and frantic,'' said Whitney Russell, 36, who came upon the wreck moments after the accident.

The bus was one of three transporting elementary school students back to the city from the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Initial reports said the bus that crashed was in the lead when the driver apparently lost control, hit a rock protruding from the side mountain and overturned, Undersheriff Benjie Montano said. The bus was found laying on its side, with the front end smashed.

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Deputy Terry Delgado said one of the three who died was an adult. He had no information on the other victims. Twelve students and the bus driver were admitted to a hospital.